I was reading an article this morning about research by Professor Joyce E Bono ….. discussing the relatively greater importance for women to have people skills at work than for men. Her findings suggest, even when women perform at the same level as men, they are much more likely to get derailed in their career even with out a people skills handicap, with it, owing to managerial unconscious bias, it seems they are doomed!

This is depressing stuff and even more depressing, she doesn’t have much in the way of suggestions about what we might do to change this bias that relates so negatively to a woman’s career potential.

My passionate commitment to women having the opportunity to share executive decision making both at home and at work, can’t leave it there! I don’t think it is just a question of tackling unconscious bias. it is also about having an unwavering intention to make a difference as a logical extension of being who you are. I say this because all of the really successful women I have encountered have told me in different ways, they have achieved their success by doing the job uncompromisingly their own way in order to achieve a specific result both for their organisation and for themselves. End of story. What others think about that is not relevant!

I know you are thinking “But that about the excellent people skills?” Actually I think it’s intention that makes it worth, doing whatever is necessary to get the result you want. So if you need to develop amazing people skills to get there! you’ll do it!